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File photo of former BMC chief Praveen Pardeshi
MUMBAI: During the five-year term of Devendra Fadnavis, 58 years old. Praveen Pardeshi He was the most powerful bureaucrat in the corridors of power. It was the eyes and ears of the CM and played a key role in the decision-making process.
When Pardeshi’s predecessor Ajoy Mehta completed his term as BMC commissioner, more than half a dozen bureaucrats were pressing for the plum job. Fadnavis, however, chose to appoint his trusted assistant Pardeshi to take over the Uddhav Shiv Sena, led by Thackeray.
It was believed that he would take over the reins of the state bureaucracy on June 30 when Ajoy Mehta’s extended term ended. However, the Covid-19 outbreak altered the script. With the increase in cases, the NDA government sent a high-level team to review readiness at BMC and some other civic bodies.
When nothing changed on the ground after the team’s first visit, the core team made a second visit and found that BMC had failed to take appropriate action, leading to an outbreak in the cases. The Center was concerned that the India chart was rising due to the rise in the Mumbai figure.
The Center is believed to have conveyed their displeasure at the way things were handled to the CM and Mehta, after which Pardeshi was diverted. Sources say Pardeshi lacked consistency in decision making. Furthermore, he did not keep the government, especially Mehta, up to date before making a decision. Pardeshi is the second bureaucrat in BMC history to have had to leave without ceremony.
Singh, Chahal take the Covid challenge head-on
Top bureaucrats and IPS officials feel at a juncture when Mumbai is hit hardest by the pandemic, the combination of Police Commissioner Parambir Singh and City Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal is best suited to meet the challenge.
When it seemed that police morale was declining, Parambir Singh went to the J J Marg police station, which has the maximum number of Covid-19 cases among its staff. He assured officers that the entire police force was with them and that every effort would be made to provide the best medical aid.
Hours after taking over the BMC, Chahal along with a few other bureaucrats visited the Nair hospital and interacted with staff and patients.
His next stop was Dharavi, the largest access point in the metropolis.
Both Singh and Chahal have signaled that they are up for the challenge.
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